MPs last night debated the impact of violence against tourists following a string of attacks in recent weeks.

Premier Ewart Brown sparked the debate by giving a second reading to the Hotels (Licensing and Control) Amendment Act 2007, which aims to tighten up hotel security.

Dr. Brown told the House of Assembly the bill would authorise the crime prevention unit to issue security guidelines to hotel operators.

Compliance would be enforced by hotel inspectors, while penalties for offences would double.

The Premier said the move was necessary because tourists’ perceptions of crime had increased in recent years.

“It’s a move designed to restore visitor confidence in personal safety,” he said.

Dr. Brown also reeled off statistics showing tourism had enjoyed three consecutive months of growth in the first quarter of 2007, and that air arrivals at the end of 2006 were at their highest point in six years.

Shadow Tourism Minister David Dodwell said the Opposition backed the new legislation because personal safety was now one of the top three reasons for choosing a holiday destination.

“There’s a very real cause for concern as to what’s been going on on the Island in the last number of years,” said Mr. Dodwell.

“There’s a perception out there that we are not that friendly any more. Crime ends up being publicised. These issues magnify themselves.”

Mr. Dodwell said many Canadians were now boycotting Bermuda because of the Rebecca Middleton murder and the way it was handled.

He also pointed to a number of recent newspaper reports of crimes against tourists, including people whose homes have been broken into and a woman who was attacked as she climbed onto a bus earlier this week.

He said his own home had also been recently targeted by thieves.

“We are headed down a slippery slope,” said Mr. Dodwell.

The Shadow Minister suggested Dr. Brown’s tourism figures had been carefully chosen to make them seem better than they really are.

Mr. Dodwell called for Government to do more to promote appreciation of the value of tourism among Bermudians, and spend more money in schools to make students realise its importance.

United Bermuda Party MP Maxwell Burgess said building hotels would encourage young people to work and invest in the industry. “Build these hotels, create an opportunity, create an atmosphere that says we are serious about tourism,” said Mr. Burgess.

“When you do that, you will be surprised how little money you have to spend. Our children will put their money into our futures.”

Former Opposition leader Grant Gibbons turned the topic back to the fear of crime among visitors.

“There’s nothing more terrifying than being in a foreign place, a foreign country, and being in a hotel room and having it being broken into when you are there,” he said.

Junior Justice Minister Michael Scott was next to speak, claiming it was “ironic” for the Opposition to criticise tourism figures when the downward trend started while the UBP was in power.

Government backbencher Terry Lister said proposed hotel developments and recently introduced cheaper airfares would “get Bermuda really going”.

“We sit here with our last grand hotel having been build in 1974,” said Mr. Lister.

He urged the industry to “get serious” about developing Bermudians, pointing out that many people were opting to work in tourism abroad.

The House also passed a set of draft regulations, the Hotels (Licensing and Control) Amendment Regulations 2007, which tighten rules in areas such as swimming pool safety, and fire prevention.